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THM “Crossover” Foods

“Crossover” meals are like “S Helper” meals in that they are weight maintenance meals; not weight loss meals. They don’t allow for weight loss, but they are designed to keep you from gaining back weight you’ve already lost.

Crossover meals are important. Serene and Pearl claim that their “S” and “E” meal plans work so well that even when you reach your desired weight you may keep losing weight unless you incorporate some Crossover meals. (Boy, how I would love to have that problem! Maybe someday soon I’ll be writing about that?) Crossovers are protein-based, but incorporate a balance of E and S foods.

“Crossover” meals give you more food variety, yet are designed to ensure that your blood sugar never spikes too high and that your body will not burn your own body fat. Serene and Pearl write in their book, “Your body will first burn the glucose from the starch in the meal, then it will burn the fat contained in the meal.” There is no weight loss involved in a Crossover meal.

One thing you need to remember is that every one of the THM meals is protein-based. In fact, the authors warn, “Continue to adhere to the good advice to not eat more than two pieces of bread at a time, no matter what stage of this plan you are on.” They also explain that, even once you reach your goal weight, you can never eat a carb-centered meal and expect to maintain your weight.

I have not yet purposely attempted a “Crossover” meal on the THM diet, they reflect the way I’ve been eating all my life—and what kept me from losing weight for so many years. In looking back over my meals these past few weeks of trying the THM weight loss plan, I see that I accidentally ate Crossover meals on certain days of this THM diet and that explains why I did not lose weight on those days. (Great discovery and so easy to get back on track!)

Crossovers are basically healthy, clean meals, but they contain that weight stalling combination of fats and carbs that the THM diet so carefully separates. In case you forgot, I’ll reiterate here: You cannot eat a fat with a starchy carb and lose weight. I now look at fat-carb combinations as deadly and I will only (purposely) try Crossovers once I have reached my goal weight (which is only 9 pounds away now).